Navy deactivates illegal refinery discovered in Rivers
An illegal refinery with 300,000 litres of diesel and a large wooden boat containing 314 barrels of crude oil in Cawthorne channel, Port Harcourt, Rivers State has been discovered, a naval drone reveals.
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According to reports, the illegal refinery was consequently deactivated by personnel of the Nigerian Navy ship, Pathfinder.
Maj. Gen. John Enenche, stated that the troops also dismantled another illegal refining site at Bille creek, while disclosing in a briefing in Abuja on Friday at on the ongoing military operations across the country, the Coordinator, Defence Media Operations
Enenche stated, “The Nigerian Navy ship, Pathfinder, in conjunction with Forward Operating Base Bonny located an illegal refining site at Bille creek with one tarpaulin and two metal reservoirs with about 60,000 litres of illegally refined AGO and 125.7 barrels of product suspected to be stolen crude oil. The storage facilities and product were dismantled while the site was deactivated.”
He also revealed that, on July 20, the Nigerian Navy ship, Delta team, intercepted two large wooden boats laden with about 40,000 litres of product suspected to be illegally refined diesel stored in polythene bags along Aladja creek, adding that the boats and contents were recovered to the base.
In his words, “Following closely, operations Calm waters and Swift response on July 18 impounded petroleum products as well as arrested boats inv olved in illegal activities.
“Furthermore, within the week, Forward Operating Base Escravos patrol team intercepted a wooden boat without engine along with Madangho creek Warri South West LGA of Delta State. The boat, which contained an unquantified product suspected to be illegally refined AGO, was dismantled.”
